Exclusive: U.N. says Syria combatants stymie aid effort

By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Countries says its assist convoys can not attain around 250,000 folks in areas besieged by Syrian government forces or rebels, regardless of “rising wants and intensifying battle”. The designated evaluate was integrated in a exclusive paper that Valerie Amos, U.N. emergency aid coordinator, introduced to an individual, unannounced U.N. meeting in Geneva on Tuesday. “Besieged communities proceed to be bring to a halt.” World mediator Lakhdar Brahimi introduced on Monday that peace talks could be held on January 22, the first direct talks between the government of President Bashar al-Assad and opposition forces in quest of to topple him. The U.N. record entitled “Humanitarian Situation and Response in Syria” painted a grim image, announcing there were 900 armed clashes in Syria in October in comparison with 500 in Could. It describes a “dangerous and difficult surroundings for humanitarian workers” and says 12 U.N. personnel and 32 volunteers or workforce of the Syrian Arab Crimson Crescent had been killed for the reason that conflict started out in March 2011.